Local Christian author releases new book
Fans of Christian fiction are going to love the newest title from Silver Valley author Sharlene Leker.
Her new book The War Within examines that fundamental question that all people of faith ask themselves: Is there really a God?
Leker’s story of a blue collar farm boy and his trivial road to becoming a pastor is based upon some of her personal accounts and history — which makes the book an even more intimate read.
“My brother and I had a close relationship and in 2011, at the age of 63, he suddenly passed away. In his early years, he had felt a calling to become a preacher, but a chain of events changed the direction of his life’s path,” Leker told the News-Press. “He blamed God for his fate, but at the same time, in the back of his mind, he still remembered his faith. Throughout the years following his death, memories flooded my mind of our years growing up together and I knew I could no longer disregard the prompt I felt to write his story. Finally, in 2018, I set out to write a fictionalized story about the internal struggle so many of us experience between 'good vs. evil' and the choices we make that affect our lives. That is why I titled the book, 'The War Within.'”
The journey to becoming a published author has been a grassroots effort by Leker, who utilized a local club to hone in her talents and fine tune her now-published work.
“My writing background would not be considered professional as I have not had any of my writings published,” Leker said. “I have written, and continue to write, short stories and poems just for fun. I am a member of the Silver Valley Writer’s Group where writers meet and share our current projects. And, to improve our writing skills, we welcome constructive criticism from our writing peers.”
After feeling drawn to the idea of writing a book, Leker fought with self-doubt and feelings of literary inadequacy, but finally she decided all of those things were just excuses and started putting the proverbial pen to paper.
Leker is excited to announce that she will participate in a series of signings over the coming weeks, including one next weekend at the Osburn Senior Center on Nov. 6-7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and then at the Kellogg library on Nov. 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and finally at the Osburn library on Dec. 6, from 5 to 8 p.m.
"The War Within" was published by Covenant Books and can be purchased at bookstores everywhere, or online in the iTunes Store, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble.
